Shield for gun mounts



Dec. 28, w48. J. c. JoRGENsEN 2,457,240

SHIELD FOR GUN MOUNTS Filed Sept. 25, 1946 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28,1948. C, JORGENSEN 2,457,240

SHIELD FOR GUN MOUNTS Filed sept. 25, 4194e; 3 sheets-sheet 2 In V enfm` cfacobflcofgensen y Z5 nel? Unis. 28, QQS. J, C, JORGENSEN 2,457,240I SHIELD FOR GUN MOUNTS Filed Sept. 25, 1946 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 atentedDec. 28, 1948 attimo saw Foa GUN MOUNTS Jacob C. Jorgensen, Beverly,Mass., aosignor. to

United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation ofNewersey Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,715

(Cl. Sii-36) c claims. l

This invention relates to-gun mounts, and more particularly to shieldsfor closing the opening in a supporting structure through which a gunprojects and relative to which opening the gunls movable in azimuth andin elevation. The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in ashield for a plurality of guns mounted to project through an opening inthe fuselage of an airplane, although it is to be understood that theinvention is not thus limited in its application.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved shield bywhich the opening in: a. supporting` structure through which a gunprojects is effectively sealed, the shield being arranged to permitmovements of the gun in azimuth and in elevation Without in any wayobstructing the space rearwardly of the opening,

Certain types of shields which have heretofore been employed for usewith airplane gun mounts are of rigid construction and are mounted tomove with the gun. To maintain the opening around the gun shielded inany position of the gun the shields extend inwardly of the airplane andmay be in the shape of a portion of the surface of a. sphere. Uponmovement of the gun to an extreme position the marginal portion of theshield moves across the opening interiorly of the air-A plane so that itat least partially obstructs the space rearwardly of the opening. If thegun is capable of a wide range of movement, operation of the gun may beconsiderably hampered by the shield when the gun is in an extremeposition.

ln accordance with a feature of the present invention the shieldcomprises a plurality of narrow plate members which are pivoted to oneanother about parallel axes and are movable with the gun in its swingingmovements, the plate .members being suiiicient in number to maintain theopening completely closed in any position offv vthe gun, there beingmeans for guiding the excess 'plates at each side of the4 opening intofolded relationship within the supporting structure.

ln accordance with a further feature of the invention the plate membersare formed in two sets, one at each side of the gun, the plates of eachset being pivoted to one another about axes parallel to the axis ofswinging movement of the gun in azimuth, there being a slide fastenerclosure connecting the sets of plates and a slide fastener operatorsurrounding the projecting gun permitting movement of the gun inelevation.

The above and other features of the invention, including various detailsof construction and novel combinations of parts, will now be described 2by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the-drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation",- partly in section, of a gun mount withwhich is associated one form of shield embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gun mount and shield with the upperportion' of the shield removed and certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on a larger scale than Fig. 2 of aportion of the shield and the adjacent structure of an airplane withwhich the mount is associated; l

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section illustrating the means by whichfolding of the shield at one side of the airplane during movements ofthe gun in azimuth is controlled;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V--V of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a detailed view partly in section illustrating the means forconnecting the adjacent ends of the sets of plates to the top and bottomsupports,

The invention is "illustratedas embodied in a shield for a quadruple gunlmount consisting of two pairs of guns G supported one above the otherand suitably carried a yoke l0 (Figs. l and 2) for unitary movements inelevation. The yoke is suitably'journaled about a vertical axis so thatthe guns may also bemoved in azimuth. The means by which the guns aresupported and are moved in azimuth and in elevation form no part ofthepresent invention and accordingly are not illustrated in detail.

The guns project through an opening in a supporting structure such asthe fuselage of an airplane, the particular mount illustrated Ahereinbeing intended to be carried by the tail section of an airplane. Theopening is formed between side Walls l2 (Fig. 2) of the airplane and topand bottom walls it, i5, the opening in the present case beingrectangular in shape. The shield for closing the opening around the gunsextends outwardly 'of the opening and is carried by top and bottom'supports i6, i8 which likewise project outwardly beyond the opening andwhich are journaled for movement with the yoke I il upon movement of theguns in azimuth. The supports it, i8 are generally dish-shaped asindicated in Fig. l and are connected together near their outermostportions, when they are positioned with the guns normal to the plane ofthe opening, by vertical plate members 2t, 22 and 2t (Fig. 2) whichextend only a limited distance around the peripheries of the supports.The central plate member 22 is spaced from the plate members 28 and 24and the spaces are closed by flexible slide fastener closures 26 throughwhich the guns project and with respect to which the guns move inelevation. For actuating the closures 26 upon movements of the guns inelevation. slide fastener operators 28 of conventional construction arecarried by short tubes 38 through which the guns G are slidable. It willbe obvious that as the guns are moved in elevation the closures 26maintain the spaces above and below the guns, as lwell as between them,closed at all times and that these closures move with the guns and thetop and bottom supports I6, I8 upon movement of the guns in azimuth.

For closing the remainder of the opening between the plate members 28and 24 and the side walls I2, a plurality of narrow plate members 32 areprovided which arc hinged together by pintles 34 which, as illustratedin Fig. 4, are of tubular construction. Extending outwardly beyond theends of each pintle are pins 36 (Fig. 5) each of which carries a rollarranged to be received by recesses 38 in curved plates 40 carried bythe rims of the supports I6 and I8.

The plates 32 adjacent to the members 28 and 24 are detachably securedto the top and bottom supports I6 and I8 by pins 42 (Fig. 6). These pinsare urged downwardly by springs 44 into apertures 46 provided bybushings 41 in the curved plates 40 adjacent to the plate members 20 and24. In order to permit the plates 32 to .be disconnected from thelsupporting members I6 and I8 the pins 42 may be retracted against theactions of the springs 44 and for this purpose handles 48 are connectedthereto and extend inwardly of the shield so that if necessary thisoperation may be performed from the interior of the airplane While theairplane is in flight.

As noted in Fig. 2, the shield consists of more plates 32 than necessaryat any one time to close the opening around the guns. The excess platesare received in compartments formed between the walls I2 of the airplaneand inwardly extending walls 58. In order to accommodate the excessplates in the limited space available they are folded as shown in Fig.2. Upon movement o'f the guns into either of their extreme positions inazimuth the excess plates will be drawn from one of the storagecompartments upon turning the supports I6 and I8 and the plates aresuilicient in number so that the opening around the guns remains closedin all positions of the guns.

For locking the plates 32 to the supports I6 and I8, latches 52 (Fig. 4)are provided in slots formed in the curved plates 40 between every otherpair of recesses 38. These latches are pivoted to the plate 40 by pins54 and are urged in a clockwise direction by springs 56. For a purposewhich will appear as the description proceeds the rolls carried by thepins 36 projecting outwardly from the pintles 34 are alternately longand short as indicated by the reference characters 58 and 68respectively (Fig. 5). The short rolls are engaged by the outer ends ofthe latches 52 which have concave roll-engaging faces 62 which cooperatewith the opposite sides of the recesses 38 to maintain the short rollsin the recesses until the latches are moved by the springs 56 into theposition shown at the extreme left in Fig. 4. The let ends of thelatches 52 have curved faces 64 engageable with the long rolls 58 andare prevented from moving under the influence of the springs 56 duringthe time that the long rolls are in therecesses 88 because of theengagement of the faces 64 with the rolls. Accordingly, as long as anyone of the rolls 58 is held in its recess 38 the short roll immediatelyforward thereof remains locked in its recess by the associated latch 52.

In the storage compartments for the excess plates of the shield areadjustably supported guide members 66 each of which comprises tracks 68and I8 for guiding the rolls 58 and 66 as shown most clearly in Fig. 4.The track 68 is of suilicient depth to accommodate the long rolls 58(Fig. 5) and extends to a position slightly rearwardly of the end of thewall I2 of the airplane (Fig. 2). The track 1I) is of sufficient depthto receive the short rolls 68 (Fig. 5) but is not suificiently deep topermit entrance of the long rolls 58 thereinto. Accordingly, it will beapparent that the long rolls must move into the track 68 upon movementof the supports I6 and I8 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4.In order that the plates will fold upon each other, as shown in Fig. 4,the short rolls 60 must be prevented from passing into the deep track68. Accordingly, provision is made for preventing movement of thelatches 52 (Fig. 4) by the springs 56 as soon as the associated longroll 58 is guided out of engagement with the latch. At the junction ofthe tracks 68 and 10 is a partition 12 which is engaged by the outeredge of the latch 64 before that latch moves out of engagement with theouter rirn of the track 68. Accordingly, the short roll is held in therecess 38 until movement of the short roll into the entranceway of thetrack 'I0 at which time the associated latch 52 is out of engagementwith the partition 12. Consequently there is no danger of the shortrolls leaving the supports I6, I8 prematurely and moving into the track68. Movement of the latch 52 by the spring 56 is limited by a pin 'I4passing through an aperture 'I5 in the latch.

Upon movement of the guns to the left and the supports in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 it will be apparent thatthe roll 58 which is located adjacent to the partition 'I2 will be drawnfrom the track 68 whereupon it will seat in its recess 38 therebylocking the associated latch 52 in operative position. Subsequently thenext short roll 60 is drawn from the track 16 into its recess 38 afterwhich the latch 52 is cammed by its engagement with the partition 'I2 tohold the roll therein. Whereas the latches 52 act only to lock the shortrolls 60 in their respective recesses it will be clear that the longroll between any pair of short rolls thus locked will also be held inits respective recess and consequently the plates 32 will move as a unitwith the supports I6, I8 thereby maintaining the opening closed at alltimes.

In order effectively to seal the plates 32 to the side walls I2 of theairplane, sealing members shown most clearly in Fig. 3 are provided.These each comprise a strip 'I6 of suitable material carried. by upperand lower supporting arms I8 only one of which is illustrated, thesesupporting arms being pivoted about pins on brackets 82 secured to theWalls I2 of the airplane. Springs 84 urge .the sealing strip I6 intoengagement with the plates 32 but will yield outwardly to permit passageof the hinged portions of the plates thereby. 'I'he side wall I2 and thesealing member carried thereby have been eliminated in Fig. 1 to affordbetter illustration of the shield.

A guard 86 covers the rim of the support I8 between walls 58 toeliminate the possibility of Vdanger to the operator by contact with therecessed portion of the rim as the guns are moved in azimuth.

From the above itwill be seen that the shield permits movements of theguns both in azimuth and in elevation throughout a wide range whilemaintaining the opening around the guns closed at all times. This iseffected without in any way at any time obstructing the space rearwardlyoi the guns between the walls 50 of the compartments into which theexcess plates of the shield are received.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An airplane gun mount comprising a pair of vertically spaced circularsupports mounted for limited turning movements about a vertical axis,said supports providing between'them an opening, a gun carried betweensaid supports for movement therewith in azimuth and projecting throughsaid opening, a flexible shield for that portion of the openingtraversed by the gun, said shield comprising a plurality of narrow,vertically-extending plates, pintles pivoting said plates together aboutaxes parallel to the axis of turning movement of the supports, pinscarried by said pintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rollscarried by said pins and received in recesses in the periphery of saidsupports, means for locking a predetermined number of said rolls in saidrecesses, and means operative upon turning said supports for guidingsaid rolls away from said supports at that side of the shield towardwhich said gun is moved in azimuth and for causing said plates to assumea folded relation.

2. A ilexible gun shield comprising a plurality of long, narrow plates,pintles pivotally connecting said plates together, pins carried by saidpintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rolls carried by saidpins, a rotatable support for said shield, means at opposite sides ofsaid support for receiving the plates of said shield in folded relation,said support having recesses in its periphery for receiving said rolls,and means operative upon turning said support for successivelyseparating the rolls from the support and folding the plates in saidreceiving means.

3. A flexible gun shield comprising a plurality of long, narrow plates,pintles pivotally connecting said plates together, pins carried by saidpintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rolls carried by saidpins, a, rotatable support for said shield, means at opposite sides ofsaid support for receiving the plates of said shield in folded relation,said support having recesses in its periphery for receiving said rolls,means operative upon turning said support for successively separatingthe rolls from the support and folding the plates in said receivingmeans, and means for locking said rolls in said recesses until they havebeen moved into a predetermined position by said support.

4. A flexible gun shield comprising a plurality of long, narrow plates,pintles pivotally connecting said plates together, pins carried by saidpintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rolls carried by saidpins, a rotatable support for said shield, means at opposite sides ofsaid support for receiving the plates of said shield in folded relation.said support having recesses in its periphery for receiving said rolls,said rolls being alternately long and short, a deep track arranged toguide the long rolls from the support to the receiving means, and a,shallow track arranged to guide the short rolls from the support to thereceiving means, said shallow track being spaced from the deep trackwhereby the plates are folded in the receiving means.

5. A flexible gun shield comprising a plurality of long, narrow plates,pintles pivotally connecting said plates together, pins carried by saidpintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rolls carried by thesaid pins, a rotatable support for said shield, means at opposite sidesof saidl support for receiving the plates of said shield in foldedrelation, said support having recesses in its periphery for receivingsaid rolls, said rolls being alternately long and short, a deep trackarranged to guide the long rolls from the support to the receivingmeans, a shallow track arranged to guide the short rolls from thesupport to the receiving means, said shallow track being spaced from thedeep track whereby the plates are folded in the receiving means, andmeans for preventing the short rolls from entering said deep track.

6. A flexible gun shield comprising a plurality of long, narrow plates,pintles pivotally connecting said plates together, pins carried by saidpintles extending beyond the ends of said plates, rolls carried by saidpins, a rotatable support for said shield, means at opposite sides ofsaid support for receiving the plates of said shield in folded relation,said support having recesses in its periphery for receiving said rolls,said rolls being alternately long and short, a deep track arranged toguide the long rolls from the support to the receiving means, a shallowtrack arranged to guide the short rolls from the support to thereceiving means, said shallow track-being spaced fromthe deep trackwhereby the plates are folded in the receiving means, and means forpreventing the short rolls from entering said deep track, said meansincluding latches arranged to lock each of the short rolls in thesupport until each short roll has moved beyond the entrance to the deeptrack.

JACOB C. JORGENSEN.

REFERENCES CXTED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Name Date 2,199,971 Sanders May 7, 1940 2,211,491 Brooke Aug. 13,1940 2,286,341 Burnelli June 16, 1942 2,338,950 Linke et al Jan. 11,1944 2,353,086 Schaafi July 4, 1944 2,423,636 Boyd July 8, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 764,191 France May 16, 1934 441,084 GreatBritain Jan. 13, 1936 494,248 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1938 520,884 GreatBritain May '1, 1940 520,885 Great Britain May 7, 1940

